argument216 infinity小组第四次作业

pluckfUID: 2172756

TOPIC: ARGUMENT216 - The following appeared in a magazine article about planning for retirement.

"Because of its spectacular natural beauty and consistent climate, Clearview should be a top choice for anyone seeking a place to retire. As a bonus, housing costs in Clearview have fallen significantly during the past year, and real estate taxes remain lower than those in neighboring towns. Nevertheless, Clearview's mayor promises many new programs to improve schools, streets, and public services. Retirees in Clearview can also expect excellent health care as they grow older, since the number of physicians in the area is far greater than the national average."
1。对房产价格和税收质疑
2。对市长的承诺质疑
3。对内科医生是否能满足需要质疑


In this argument, the author concludes that Clearview should be a top choice for people who want to seek a place to retire. The author provides various evidence to justify this conclusion. However, several logical flaws are involved in the argument which render it unconvincing to me.

To begin with, the first problem involves the fact that Clearview house costs have fallen and real estate taxes remain lower than those in neighboring town. However, the author provides no data and information about the real house costs before it had fallen. Perhaps although it had fallen significantly, the house costs remain unacceptable for most retirees. Even if the housing price is low enough, the arguer still assumes that the price is a main factor when wealthier retirees choose a place to retire.[很欣赏这个写法，不仅说了下降不代表价格低，更主要的说了作者基于的假设也是错误的] In addition, the fact that real estate taxes remain lower than those in neighboring towns unnecessarily indicates that it is lower than any other town of the country. If so, the author could not draw the conclusion that Clearview should be a top choice for retirees [这段写的非常好]

Secondly, the author continues to cite that Clearview's mayor promises to improve schools, streets, and public services. It may be had some correlations between improving services and attracting retirees. However, the author provides no evidence to show which kinds of schools and public services the mayor plan to improve. Perhaps the mayor only wants to improve elementary schools, but retirees' children have to go to high schools or universities [老人的孩子至少上大学，觉得家长对于孩子念大学是不是还要呆在身边顾忌的不多吧，主要是看孙子从小能不能得到好得教育吧]and the roads the mayor promises to improve are minor streets not rather than main streets which are related to other major cities. [觉得修小路对老人有利，可以散步，修大路为了经济发展，可能让城市多更多的车辆，比较喧嚣] If this is the case, the mayor's promise will not attract retirees moving to Clearview. [批驳的角度很好，值得学习]

Thirdly, another problem in this argument is that the author unfairly assumes that retirees in Clearview can expect excellent health care because of the number of physicians in this area is larger than the national average. As it stands this evidence is far too vague to support the assumption. (Perhaps it is just tolerable.) Even if this is the case, the author provides no information about which kinds of physicians in the area and which kinds of doctor retirees really needs[need]. It is entirely possible that these physicians can only cure some kinds of disease while some retirees suffer with others diseases.[good] Or perhaps, most retirees need surgeons more than physician. Absent additional information about the physicians, it is difficult to accept the conclusion.[good]

In summary, the argument presented is useful but limited. In order to bolster it, the author must provide information about how much the house costs now and whether it will be acceptable to most retirees. Also, the author has to provide evidences about which kinds of public services the mayor promise to improve and whether these physicians can meet retirees’ need.

写得很好， 新颖脱俗。 要是时间够得话还可以加点别人找得地方，数量不能说明什么得等等。

[ 本帖最后由 pluckf 于 2006-6-28 23:10 编辑 ]